Arthur Beetson dies after heart attack

Rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson has died aged 66 after suffering a heart attack on the Gold Coast.

Beetson was riding his bike at Paradise Point around 9:15am (AEST) on Thursday when witnesses said he suffered severe chest pains.

Ambulance officers were called to treat him at the scene but were unable to save his life.

Beetson was the first Indigenous Australian to captain a national team in any sport.

He played 28 Tests for Australia and was captain in two, in addition to skippering Queensland in the first State of Origin match in 1980.

Beetson played 235 club matches between 1963-81 in the Sydney and Brisbane first grade competitions.

He captained Eastern Suburbs to back-to-back Sydney first grade premiership wins in 1974 and 1975.

He began his stint in Sydney with Balmain in 1966, famously missing its 1969 premiership victory because of suspension, and finished up with Parramatta in 1980 before returning to Redcliffe in the Brisbane first grade competition.

His coaching career included leading the Maroons to Origin series victories in 1983, 1984 and 1989, while at the club level he was also at the helm of the Roosters and Cronulla.

NRL chief executive David Gallop says Beetson was one of the great advertisements for the game of rugby league.